Clovis Community College lets students explore industrial automation in new coursePublished by Sivad Inc. - February 1, 2018

CLOVIS, Calif. - If you're interested in technology, Clovis Community College is now offering a new short-term course, in Mechatronics. Students are going to be exposed to mechanical systems, electrical systems, computer systems, and the fact that this is a control system, that's what mechatronics is.....Read More

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – (Oct. 17, 2017) FANUC America Corporation has introduced four new national training certifications for robotics and advanced automation manufacturing. The certifications are the first ever for robot operations, programming
and integrated vision.

The industry-education certifications are the result of an 18-month collaboration of more than 150 subject matter experts from FANUC America, industry, automation system integrators, and leading advisors and instructors from high schools, community
colleges, and universities....Read More

Amatrol Introduces Skill BossPublished by Sivad Inc. - June 20, 2017

Amatrol’s newest product, Skill Boss, created as a hands-on assessment system for MSSC’s new CPT Plus certification, is gaining positive press ahead of its official June 22nd launch at SkillsUSA in Louisville, KY.

President Trump signed an Executive Order to ramp up apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships to help close the skills gap. To aid the President’s initiative, on June 22, MSSC and Amatrol will launch a nationwide Certified Production Technician “Plus” (CPT+) credential enabled by a revolutionary hands-on training and assessment device: “Skill Boss.”

Simlog Inc., the pioneer and global standard in affordable PC-based heavy equipment simulators for operator training in education and industry, is pleased to announce the availability of its newest product, the Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator.

Developed in collaboration with training professionals and emphasizing best practices, Simlog’s new Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator puts trainees at the controls of a typical wheeled Backhoe Loader at work in a typical construction site. More

Rochester Hills, MI – This week the FANUC CERT Education group introduced the New (Machine Tending Education Cell) MTEC. The new system is available exclusively through FANUC’s Education Authorized Resellers and represents a joint commitment to bring authentic industrial technology to education.

The MTEC enables education programs to teach Robot-Loaded Machining using an industrial-grade FANUC Robot integrated with virtually any CNC Mill or Lathe. Robot-Loaded Machining, in which an industrial robot loads a machining center, has become increasingly prevalent in industry. This process enables manufacturers to improve throughput and precision while reducing risks to workers. Individuals trained in both CNC Machining and Advanced Automation are in higher demand and command greater salaries than those competent in only one of the two disciplines. More....

Manufacturing’s new face – clean operations in modern, well-lit, well-staffed industrial plant settings – is driving domestic employment growth, and robots are a key cog in that modern machinery.

From 2010 to 2016, according to a white paper for the Association for Advancing Automation, 136,748 robots were shipped to U.S. customers, the most ever in the domestic robotics industry.

Local educators say students exploring the link between mechanics and electronics, the so-called “mechatronics” evolution, are prepared to be the world’s next engineers and technicians. These kids are part of the smartphone, iPad generation and have no qualms about using technology for work and play.....Read More

New from Amatrol! Portable Basic Hydraulics. This learning system provides a portable alternative that features all of the skills of our traditional Basic Hydraulics learning systems. Portable Basic Hydraulics includes gauges, manifolds, cylinders, valves (relief/sequence, pressure reducing, check, directional control, etc.), flow meter, and a portable hydraulic power supply. Portable Basic Hydraulics has a remarkably small footprint, but still allows learners to gain hands-on skills with real-world, industrial components....Read More

The survey is intended to inspire dialogue between parents, educators, counselors and students, with the goal of better aligning programs and services with students’ needs and preparing them for careers ahead.

The study provides insight into students’ perceptions of the value of Career and Technical Education (CTE) preparation and influences on career choices.

The article further points out how the path of vocational and technical training might best be navigated, and how that path helps people avoid the often immense debt associated with a four-year college degree, while also providing “real world,” industry recognized skills in a hands-on context.

Montreal, January 3rd, 2017 –Simlog Inc., the pioneer and standard in affordable PC-based heavy equipment simulators for operator training in education and industry, is pleased to announce the release of the “Advanced Edition” for Simlog’s Mobile Crane Version 3, to provide even more operator training help for professional training and assessment of both crane operators and signal persons.Building upon Simlog’s existing Mobile Crane Personal Simulator Version 3, now called “Standard Edition”, the “Advanced Edition” Read More....

From the article, “Companies Struggle to find Employees with Basic Assembly Skills”:

There was a time, not long ago, when employers could rely on new hires to possess rudimentary knowledge of basic assembly methods, schematic diagrams, and proper use of hand tools. These skills were the result of individuals who grew up maintaining their cars. Yet that way of life is largely a thing of the past, much to the dismay of employers. The current focus on advanced technologies and high-end skills is crucial and necessary, but you cannot overlook the need for basic skills, such as the ability to install bearings, lubricate machine slides, or align couplings.

If you would like to learn more about the basic assembly skills gap and how companies are investing in a solution, continue reading the article in these publications:

How Technical Certifications Lead to Manufacturing SuccessPublished by Sivad Inc. - September 28, 2016

As the next generation chooses a career path, it's good to know that high-paying, fulfilling jobs are available in industry and manufacturing. Although there are many means of launching a successful career in these fields, technical certifications may be the most expedient and economical path to achieve this goal. Students who acquire certifications in high school or after high school have many more opportunities for employment and higher pay than those with only a high-school diploma

Certifications are portable credentials awarded to individuals once they have proven mastery of a specific set of skills. It is important to ensure that the certificate is accredited, for while non-accredited certification programs may offer a positive experience, it's uncertain how potential employers will view them.... Read More

From the article, “STEM Dropout Rates and the Manufacturing Skills Gap”:

Courses in high school must move beyond the theoretical and into the practical so that students can see their relevance and the available career paths they offer. Only by giving them the opportunity to really explore STEM in a hands-on manner can students determine if a STEM career is right for them. Exposing students to the applications of STEM early, and doing so by way of inherently engaging approaches — like interactive multimedia, project-based hands-on learning, and training systems that use industrial components that mimic real-world situations — can turn their interest in STEM into a real desire for a career.

If you would like to learn more about Amatrol’s solutions to the manufacturing skills gap and the importance of engaging students in STEM skills, continue reading the article here:

Please stop and see us at the Mississippi ACTE Summer Conference July 27-29
Held at the Jackson Convention Center in Jackson Mississippi
Amatrol's Dan Heim will be presenting a session on certification and credentials

We will be exhibiting at the 2016 Post-secondary Career Pathways Summer Conference
August 2-3 at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS
Amatrol's Dan Heim will be presenting a breakout session on Amatrol's e-learning

U/LINC is a complete curriculum of lesson plans, videos, student handouts, tests, presentations and more designed to supercharge your teaching
experience and free you from curriculum development.

Now more than ever, up and coming welders need the best training possible

The manufacturing landscape of the 21st century is defined by increasingly high standards of quality, productivity, efficiency and regulatory compliance. With skilled welders continually aging out of the workforce, students of the trade at the high school, trade school and college levels require the best possible training to fill in the skills gap.

Lincoln Electric is well positioned to help educators provide that training. As a result of our longstanding relationship with industry, we have a unique insight into the issues manufacturers face every day and the skills they need from workers to meet the demands of a new era.

U/LINC turns that insight and expertise into effective curriculum aimed at training a new generation of welders for a new era in manufacturing.

ATTI's 2016 Instructor Training Schedule is Now Available! Published by Sivad Inc. - March 17, 2016

Amatrol has released its instructor training course schedule for 2016! The Amatrol Technical Training Institute (ATTI) in Jeffersonville, Indiana, provides courses on the technical subject matter and implementation of Amatrol Learning Systems.

Check out the schedule for dates and times and enroll now to secure your place as these classes fill up fast!

FLUIDMechatronix™ is a state-of-the-art process automation and pumps teaching system.

Utilizing aRockwell Automation PAC, along with a large format touch-screen HMI, students are presented with curriculum-driven skill building activities that include process control and programming of tank levels, flow rate, pressures/suction, temperature and mixing.

ControlsLabTMis a unique educational system that offers learning opportunities in the field of controls and automated systems.

Equipped with a programmable automation controller, Variable Frequency Drive, laser distance measuring sensor and solenoid operated louvers; students utilize airflow to control the positioning of an aerodynamic float. The float represents a control dynamic that is analogous to many real world scenarios, such as an automobile's cruise control, temperature control, autopilot altitude capture, or a buildings HVAC control.

With the REALWELD® Trainer in your welding booth, students can practice Stick, MIG and flux-cored arc welding, while receiving audio coaching and weld performance tracking on 5 key parameters. It’s like having a teacher’s assistant right in the booth helping to advance every student toward their career goals.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Sivad Inc, announced that it has signed an Education Reseller Agreement with The Lincoln Electric Company, a subsidiary of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., located in Cleveland, OH.

The agreement enables Sivad Inc. to resell virtual and automated welding training systems to educational institutions in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. The virtual and automated training systems help welding, robotic and manufacturing technology instructors and students develop the skills necessary to prepare for a career in the skilled trades or advanced manufacturing environment.

VRSim is excited to announce a new version of SimBuild Carpentry. With an updated user interface and sharper graphics, students have more exposure to safety, construction math and tools. Student's are now able to access SimBuild in the classroom and at home.

Let’s face it - with over 2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs going unfilled because applicants lack the required skills, we have an urgent and critical need for manufacturing training. Companies and community colleges are desperately trying to fill this skills gap, and portable simulators, also called trainers, may provide the edge that they need to be successful. Portable simulators are rapidly gaining popularity....

What does Manufacturing mean to America?Published by Sivad Inc. - January 29, 2015

Simlog Inc., the pioneer and standard in affordable PC-based heavy equipment simulators for operator training in education and industry, is pleased to announce the availability of a major upgrade to the Mobile Crane Personal Simulator: Version 3....

zSpace, Inc. Named as CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Award HonoreeNomination in the Computer Hardware & Components product category is a testament to zSpace’s commitment to shaping the future of computer-human interaction...

Simlog Inc., the pioneer and standard in affordable PC-based heavy equipment simulators for operator training in education and industry, is pleased to announce the availability of its Forklift Personal Simulator.